Apparatus for supporting and moving invalids



(No Model.) v 2 Sheets-Sheet '1, S. S. HEPBURN. APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING AND MOVING INVALIDS.

Patented June 23, 1896.

M T N E V N I WITNESSES %Z I r ATTORNEYS AN DREW a GRAHAM. H1670 umorwAsurucwu. o c

2 Sheets$heet 2.

(N0 Modei.)

s. s. HEPBURN. APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING AND MOVING INVALIDS.

No. 562,725. Patented June 28, 1896-.

WITNESSES %W. a W

A TTOH/VEYS EEicE.

PATENT SEI'VELL S. HEPBURN, OF OLIVER, VIRGINIA.

APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING AND MOVING INVALIDS.'

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 562,725, dated June 23, 1896.

Application filed July 18, 1895- $crial No. 556,419- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, SEWELL S. HEPBURN, of Oliver, in the county of Hanover and State of Virginia, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Apparatus for Supporting and Moving Invalids, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is an improved apparatus for supporting and moving invalids; and it consists in certain novel constructions. combinations, and arrangements of parts, as will be hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved apparatus. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the hammock. Figs. 3, 4, and 5 are detailed views illustrating parts of the hammock. Fig. 6 illustrates a somewhat modified form of hanger. Fig. 7 is a detail view illustrating the joint between the sections of the main portion of the hammock. Fig. Sis a detail perspective View of the lower portion of the upright and its bearing, and Fig. 9 is a detail view of the roller-frame.

The standard A is extensible, so it may be clamped between floors and ceilings of diderent heights, being to such end formed in sections A and A adjustable one upon the other, a suitable clamp B being provided by which to clamp the sections in any desired adjustment. The clamp B may be in the form of bolts, as shown, or of other suitable construction.

At the upper and lower ends of the standard I provide pivot pins or studs 0 O, the upper one C journalin g in a plate (3 fixed to the ceiling, while the lower one C journals in a bearing-plate D, fixed to the floor and provided with the central bearing cl for the in O and with a series of openings or seats cl for the latch-bolt E, such bolt being springactuated and arranged to secure the standard in any position to which it may be turned and also operates to arrest the standard at any point of its revolution.

A Windlass F is j ournaled in side frames G and has a handle F and aratchet F", the latter being arranged for engagement by a pawl F The frame G has its arms provided with slots g, having inlet-wings g, so the frame G can be readily applied to and removed from the bolts G, by which they are secured to the standard, thus facilitating the application and removal of the Windlass and its frame.

The crane-arm II is connected at one end with the standard and extends outward and upward therefrom at an angle, being braced at its upper end by a stay-rod I, connected at one end with the standard and at the other end with the crane-arm, being detachable at one end, so the crane-arm can be folded up against the standard. To permit of such fold ing, I connect the said arm H with the standard by means of straps or links J, pivotally secured to both the standard and to the cranearm, connecting with the latter near its lower end h, which end is cut diagonally, as shown, so that when said arm is turned outward for use its diagonal end will rest squarely against the standard, the links permitting the convenient folding of the arm alongside the standard.

At the outer end of the crane-arm I provide a pulley-block K, and the rope or cable extends from the Windlass through said block and through a lower pulley-block K, from which the hanger L is suspended, such hanger having hooked ends Z, and connecting with the lower pulley-block K.

On the hanger L, I support the roller-frame L, having two rollers L L fitted at each end in the curved pieces I L so as to be turned by a keyor crank fitted on the projecting square ends. Said rollers are ratcheted at the keyed end, so they may be stopped at any point to which they may be turned.

The hammock M is suspended from this hanger by straps or cords attached to its head and foot ends to be described. Said cords are then attachedto the rollers, the head-cords to one and the foot-cords to the other. When tension is made on the head-cords by turning the roller to which they are attached, and the foot-ropes relaxed, the head is raised and the foot lowered and the angle of the hammock changed to any desired degree, and vice versa.

The hammock M is suspended from the hanger and may be raised or lowered by the elevating devices and swung to any suitable position by derrick, as will be understood. To facilitate turning the standard, I provide a handle N, pivoted thereto at N, so it can be turned up alongside the standard when not in use, or out for use. When turned out for can be. easily applied or removed, and so it Figs. 3and 5.

use the handle fits down in a boxdike keeper N by which it is braced as the standard is turned.

The hammock is composed of the main por-v tion 0 and the leg-rest P. O hasa frame composed of side bars 0, top bar 0 and lower bar 0 the bars 0 0 being readily applied to and detached from the side bars by fitting tenons O on their ends in staples O on the side bars. The lower bar 0 is curved, as will be understood from The side bars are in sections, jointed together by side straps Q, pivoted to both sections of the side bars and on both sides thereof, so the main portion of the hammock can be adjusted flat or to a sitting position.

In securing the side-bar sections straight or at an angle, I provide the side brace-bars R, preferably curved, as shown, so they may form arm-rails for the occupant of the hammock, and these brace-bars are formed at their ends'to fit in staples in the side bars. These staples are arranged in pairs, the staples S receiving the ends of the bars R to hold the side bars out straight or flat While the keepers S receive the said bars to hold the side bars at an angle approaching a sitting position. The adjustment ofthe brace-bars can be readily effected and they will operate to securely maintain the hammock in either form.

eyelets, through which straps are passed and.

looped around the frame-bars, so the bottom can be adjusted to afford more slack at some points than at others. This also affords opportunity for perfect cleansing, as the parts may be detached and subjected to any desired cleansing operation.

The legsupport has a frame and bottom or covering of canvas, leather, or the like secured similarly to the corresponding part of the main portion.

In the bottom of the main portion I cut a suitable hole at T, closed from below by the flap T, stitched or lashed at 15 above the hole, extended down below the hole, and secured at its lower end by stitching, lashing, or otherwise.

An especial advantage results from arranging the flap longitudinally of the hammock, as thereby it firmly supports the person when the hole is not in use, avoids any slipping of the invalid down in the hole by any lateral flaring of the hole, and affords a strong firm support at the region of the opening.

At suitable points in the hammock-frame I provide openings for the cords U, by which the hammock is connected with and suspended from the hanger. lVhere desired, two hangers may be used at right angles to each other, as shown in Fig. 6, and the cords be suitably connected therewith. By adjusting these cords to different lengths the position The main portion and adjustments of the hammock can be varied to a great extent.

In lifting and moving invalids to different points in the room the apparatus will be found highly useful, and may be rigged and taken down in a few minutes.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an apparatus substantially as described, the combination with the standard andthe crane-arm having its end ad jaccnt said standard inclined or diagonal of the links connecting said standard and crane-arm and pivotally connected with both such parts and the connection between the outer end of the crane-arm and the standard substantially as set forth.

2. An apparatus substantially as described comprising the standard formed in sections 'whereby it may be extended longitudinally provided with clamping devices whereby it may be held in different adjustments and having pivot or trunnion points at its OPPO".

site ends, the bearing-plate adapted to be sc- 3. In an apparatus substantially as (lescribed, thecombination of the standard, the

Windlass-securing bolts the windlass-drunr and its side frames having arms provided with slots fitting the bolts and having outlet wings or openings whereby the frame may be readily applied to and removed from the standard substantially as set forth.

4. In an apparatus substantially as de scribed, the standard formed in sections whereby it may be extended and having suitable clamping devices, the pins or trunnions at the opposite ends of the standard the baseplate, the Windlass having its side frames provided with slotted openings having outletwings, the bolts passed through said slots, the crane-arm, and the links connecting said arm with the standard and pivoted to both such parts all substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

5. In an apparatus substantially as described the combination with the hammockframe having its side bars formed in sections jointed together, of brace-bars lapping such joint, and keepers in which the ends of said bars are rein ovably fitted substantiallyas set forth.

6. In an apparatus substantially as described, a hammock-frame having its side bars formed in sections jointed together and provided on opposite sides of said joint with two pairs of keepers and a bracing-bar fitted at its ends to said keepers, the latter being arranged substantially as shown whereby when the bar is fitted to the keepers of one pair it will hold the hammock-frame flat and scribed, the combination of the hoisting and when in the other pair will secure the frameswinging apparatus the roller-frame carried sections at an angle substantially as set forth. thereby and having independent rollers or 7. The combination of the support a frame drums, the hammock and connections be- I 5 5 suspended therefrom and having a plurality tween the opposite ends of said hammock and of Windlass-drums and independent detents the independent drums substantially as set therefor, the hammock and connections loeforth.

tween the opposite ends thereof and the re- SEVVELL S. HEPBURN. spective Windlass-drums all substantially as Vitnesses: 10 and for the purposes set forth. ROSEVVELL PAGE,

8. In an apparatus substantially as de- JAS. M. BALL. 

